SILVERSTONE, England – Alex Rins bested Marc Marquez in a photo finish to win Sunday’s MotoGP event at the Silverstone Circuit.
The race started off in dramatic fashion as Rins got out of shape on the opening lap, causing Fabio Quartararo to take evasive action and crash. The result incident collected Andrea Dovizioso, who was taken to a local medical center for further checks after a big hit to the head.
Meanwhile Marquez had slipped away from the field from the pole with Valentino Rossi in second and Rins in third. Rins quickly dispatched Rossi and he and Marquez began to build a gap on the rest of the field.
Rins stayed glued to Marquez’s tailpipes as the laps clicked off, with Rins briefly taking the lead before Marquez promptly took it back.
With four laps remaining Rins nearly took himself out of contention, as an error at the exit of the Vale chicane dropped Rins .6 seconds behind Marquez. Rins quickly reeled Marquez back in, setting up a three-lap battle for the win.
On the penultimate lap Rins managed to slip past Marquez in turn 15, but Marquez returned the favor down the Wellington Straight to regain the lead.
On the last lap Rins hounded Marquez, trying desperately to find a way past. In the final corner Rins took a high line as Marquez hugged the bottom, with Rins getting a run to Marquez’s inside coming to the finish line.
At the checkers Rins edged Marquez by .013 seconds to earn his second MotoGP victory of the season, with the first coming earlier this year at Circuit of the Americas.
Maverick Vinales finished third, followed by Rossi in fourth and Franco Morbidelli in fifth.